On the table, next to the bed, there was a hangover drink left with a short, handwritten letter for him on the table. Remembering what happened last night, he couldn't accept it. This divorce might just be one of Velda's many tricks. To confirm his suspicions, Callisto reluctantly took out the letter.
{I thought you would easily approve the divorce papers. Seeing how hard you tried to stop me, I am genuinely happy and sad at the same time. My opinion still remains that I should be the one to leave. When we signed the marriage contract, it was so that the both of us mutually benefited from it. But now, I can see that you are getting the short end of the deal.
Don't blame Lisa for telling me. Even before this, I was thinking of leaving. She just gave me the courage to really do it. I consider you as a friend, so whenever you have difficulties, relay the message to Lisa. I will reply some time later. Although I don't know what you were thinking when you decided to consummate with me after all this time, I hope you forget about me. Find a more capable hunter who can support you and heal you.
Also, I have a surprise for you in the kitchen! Don't leave it forever inside the fridge in a grudge against me knocking you out this one time. Bye~! Let us never meet again!}
Callisto crumpled the paper in a fit of anger before carefully brushing the folds and placing it into his drawer. The paper definitely had her handwriting and the contents resembled her straightforward personality. He wasn't angry at her for injuring him, rather it was because she didn't keep her promise of staying with him.
Taking the hangover drink, he got up, trudging into the kitchen. He opened the fridge, peering upon many bottles of blood with a little note left on top of one. He was worried whether Velda pushed herself to draw this much blood despite her abilities decreasing. He grabbed the sticky note, reading it out loud.
{Take these as my farewell gift, though you may not need it. The jars of blood will last for 2 years at most. Within that time, drink as little as possible, save it up before you can find a new hunter who is capable enough to heal and protect you.
Best regards, Velda}
Callisto laughed at his wife's concerns. "Why is she always talking about another one even though I only have her as a wife?" He stopped laughing. "Ah," he solemnly muttered, "right. She's no longer my spouse from this moment onwards."
As he closed the fridge and headed for the living room, the scent of lilac and lavenders laced together painfully reminded him of Velda's presence. Her room was still filled with many dresses and the cosmetics were left untouched on her dressing table. If Callisto didn't know she divorced him, he wouldn't have known she left the house at all, thinking she would surely come back.
This sense of loneliness felt familiar, as to the days in the past three years where Callisto alway waited for Velda to come back home. In spite of his stoic visage while working on his documents for the land he was managing, he was yearning for the sound of key card unlocking the door and her light footsteps into the house. To make up for the times she made him wait, he always took the initiative to tease her that it wouldn't be an exaggeration that seeing her face was the main reason to keep on living this mundane life.
Despite his will to die, every time he was injured, she never failed to come to his rescue and bring him back from the border of death. Ironically, he detested that she managed to save him, at the same time, he loved to see worry visibly shown on her face because of him. Like what she said, if she was planning to disappear, why did she even try to make changes to their beneficial relationship?
In the past, she wasn't like this, eager to touch the expensive things placed in the room, yet didn't dare to approach him. If Callisto could describe her with one word, it would be a rabbit - energetic and adorable but cowardly. Callisto perceived fear and other complicated emotions towards him, thus, he stayed away from her.
Throughout their first year of living together, nothing changed because both fulfilled their end of deal. Velda provided sufficient blood every month while Callisto showered her with money. They led separate lives, they minimally greeted the other and rarely talked when they saw each other in the condo. One day, she started talking to him, suggesting they should know more about the other to polish their act as lovers when deceiving the cunning nobles.
He cooperated with her, responding to her daily conversational topics. If not for finding her tenacious personality lovable, he wouldn't comply with her requests. A few months later, just when he thought they were getting closer, she distanced herself from him. He couldn't understand what complicated worries that girl was concocting in her little mind.
As if they had a huge quarrel, neither of the two talked to each other until Callisto stumbled upon a surprising scene in the banquet Montreal family hosted that evening at Langham, a five star hotel. In the center of an encircling crowd, the two ladies were arguing with each other. It was fair to say the brawl was completely one-sided for the audience was siding with one lady's side of the story. "You are a lowly hunter. What right do you have to stay by his side?!"
"I know." The other lady, who stood unfazed as she faced all the insults hurled at her, was Velda. Callisto was infuriated that his wife was not accepting his help. By mentioning him, she could end the lady and her family's lives. She probably didn't want to cause trouble due to what he said on the day they decided on the contract. If she did retaliate, his reputation would be spoiled for marrying an uneducated, rude person who abused her power without his permit.
Nobles were despicable both in their methods to gain what they want and their sneaky way of talking. They were hostile to outsiders who are new to society, particularly hunters, their lifelong enemies. He will have to find out a traitor in the few people he let in about the marriage contract. There was nobody else who could discover her identity as a hunter unless they were following Velda dedicatedly.
The lady, busy disrespecting the duchess, was the only child of Louise family, one of the wealthiest families any lower and middle rank nobles would like to have as a backer and a connection to. Those maggots went along with the flow, probably thinking it would be advantageous to stand up for the beloved, affluent lady rather than a duchess who holds no power over the family nor her husband. He knew their personalities better than anyone, but to think they pretended to treat her with respect when he was by her side to support and changed their attitudes behind his back. They dare! He clenched his fists in anger.
Pondering whether he should have given a clear warning instead of silently supporting her, he stepped into the room. The two ladies were both surprised he finished his business quite early. Prior to this disagreement, Callisto left Velda alone to talk about mine exchange with his business partner, Noel Rayfield. No one could have guessed Callisto would negotiate their deals so smoothly that they concluded their meeting ahead of time.
His heavy, resonating steps hushed everyone to a stillness as the pressure of his murderous intent fell upon everyone present in the room except Velda, who instinctively bolted behind Callisto, posing as a terrified lady.
"What happened?" Callisto's eyes wandered around the room, searching for an answer.
Discerning that no one was going to give him an answer to his question, Velda replied for those cowardly nobles instead. "Nothing."
Some of them were at ease that the countryside girl sided for them. Gradually, they relaxed their furrowed expressions. "Do you take me for a fool?"
Nothing was wrong? There was plenty of evidence left behind in the split moment he observed the room. The lady who was taking it out on her held a glass wine half broken, and the wine it contained was splashed onto Velda's face and dress. It was clear she was putting on an act to add fuel to the fire. He couldn't help but feel exasperated. Callisto sighed, taking out the hand she hid behind her back to show everyone the so-called evidence. The wound gushed out heaps of blood, dripping onto the ground. The cut then slowly healed, returning to its original state.
Perceiving that the duke was irked, the Louise parents stepped in front of their daughter, asking for the duke's lenience. He ignored their words. Staying calm, he uttered those words. "Don't you dare escape." Not sure who he was talking to, no one dared to test his words by moving a step out of their position. Velda was busy trying to appease him. "Daisy Louise." The people in the room silently heaved a sigh, relieved that those words weren't directed at them. "Are you in the right mind?" Callisto asked.
Daisy, the young lady, who stumbled onto the ground after he entered the ball, was a mature lady, dressed in an extravagant black dress. Her amber eyes shone brilliantly among the darkness. She regarded herself as his childhood friend because of their slightly brief meeting and grew to fall in love with him as she met an adult Callisto again. She thought it was fate that brought about the meeting between the two. Then again, God lied to her.
Callisto became someone she couldn't recognize. He defended others instead of prioritizing her. She couldn't accept he wasn't in love with her and that she was the one who did something unforgivable. Now that she had come to her senses, she had been waiting for an opportunity to apologize for the incident, but, she didn't have the courage to talk to him, not after realizing the consequences of what she had done.
Since his wife was harmed arbitrarily, she wondered if he would despise her for it? Velda interfered, standing between Daisy and Callisto. "Don't harm her! She is in love with you."
"My dear," he stroked her cheeks, "are you implying it's my fault this happened to you?"
"No, I am not." Velda shook his hands off her face.
"Besides, a stalker doesn't count as my pursuer, who showers me with pure love and wishes the best for me. Do you think she does?" Velda denied it quickly. "Louise family, it was unacceptable that you've harmed my people. Besides, she's the most important one in my life. Why didn't you stop her?" He questioned them.
Daisy Louise's parents bowed their heads in apology, replying. "We were with our maternal relatives, discussing business somewhere else."
"This time, we won't hold you accountable, but there will be no next time." He was warning them not to do anything stupid. "For now, my wife and I will be deciding Lady Louise's punishment. Leave us be until we've come to a decision."
The nobles all gladly move away from the two, minding their own business and resuming the interrupted banquet, while Louis' parents were walking around the banquet, pale and apparently worried. The couple moved to a more private place, where they could talk through things discreetly. Velda broke the ice between the two.
"What do you mean by stalker?"
His eyes turned dull. "Daisy trespassed our mansion many times before, and hurt my servants with a fork, a stone, whatever things she could find in the garden."
"That already sounds dangerous."
"Isn't that right? Besides, she almost plunged a knife in me out of jealousy from touching the other woman. Luckily, my butler covered for me before I got hurt. She was truly crazy saying things like I belonged to her or something like that."
Velda was bad at comforting people at their worst. She couldn't think of anything else to say other than sorry.
"What are you sorry for?" Callisto asked as he bandaged the wounds with the fabric he ripped off from his shirt.
"For causing trouble." Velda lowered her head, as though she were the cause of this incident. And Callisto didn't like that behavior. He lifted her chin and uttered.
"Though I did say on the day we signed the contract that I didn't like trouble, I meant we could solve troubles that come up together."
Velda's eyes twinkled with excitement. "Like partners in crime?" Her smile shone radiantly that he couldn't help but be stunned for a while. "Callisto?"
"Yeah." He agreed. "But doesn't it sound like we are planning to do something bad?"
"Aren't we?" Velda smirked as the both of them stood up and strode towards the Louise family.
Callisto ordered the guards to detain Lady Louise into the jail for a week. Louise's parents thanked him for his mercy, while requesting him for time to speak to their child. Callisto allowed them a few minutes. The parents took this chance to remind her not to cause further troubles, and reassured her that if she didn't, they could bail her out in a few days easily. Daisy nodded, listening to their advice, trying not to make eye contact with Callisto.
Before the guards took her away, Callisto took this chance to make it clear who she was messing with. Leaning forward, he yanked her hair towards him as he whispered viciously. "The reason I let you go when you hurt my servants, my butler and almost killed them was because you were immature. If you are going to make those pathetic excuses you did for the actions you do now, I am going to make you take responsibility by first slashing off your head, then cutting your body parts and letting it regenerate into a deformed body. Afterwards, I will repeat the process by cutting a different part. Maybe in the end, you will transform into a homunculus, a being that is neither supreme nor human."
Callisto took a few steps back.
Daisy could see behind his calm smile laid a restrained murderous intent, bursting to gnaw her. She quivered in fear of the man before her. Unlike his young self which she admired, it was clear he'd grown, both in temperament and appearance. Daisy was panting heavily because of the suffocating mist strangling her neck with great strength. Noticing the work of a spell, her parents broke it with their powers, coming to her defense. They glared at Callisto with visible resentment, but didn't dare to make a move on him.
Velda stepped up to defend him. "Please don't stare at my husband like that. I heard she regarded herself to be a fated partner of the duke and I didn't get what she deserved?" Velda shook her head. "How pitiful. I am not sure if she was blessed or cursed to have prophesied that. Is she okay now?"
Velda was implying to Louise's parents whether she was mentally crazed or underdeveloped out loud to the nobles. She wanted them to clarify what their daughter's situation was, and whether she was really offending the duke by saying he didn't choose his wife well. If they answered no, it would be considered as insulting the duchess, thus, adding onto the weight of crimes. If they answered she was okay now, it would be affirming that she had a mental illness at first which would reduce her marriage prospects for the family to make connections with.
Either choice posed a dilemma to the Louise family.
"Or shall I decide?" Callisto, who was listening to the whole conversation, came up with a solution. "Trust me. I am quite merciful now compared to when I was younger, aren't I?" Daisy had an ominous feeling he was about to do something detrimental to her.
Finishing his last sentence, along with a snap of his fingers, Daisy's agonizing yell resonated along with the music during the banquet. No one noticed anything until they looked at her legs and saw blood piling underneath her. Popping out of her dress, no one saw her feet. Some youths and elderly were terrified of the bloody mess, where it was endlessly leaking, but most of the vampire adults were used to the smell and empathized with the necessity to spill blood.
To vampires, cruelty and sovereignty were taught from young. Most of the vampires, who gathered experience in battles, found any smell of blood familiar as they had to fight with many others for the succession title and on dangerous missions. Louise's family was also aware this was a small price to pay in order to alleviate the duke's anger. No matter how much they loved Daisy, they couldn't refute his methods for they were taught the same way, growing up.
The doctor entered the scene and picked up her two feet cleanly cut off from her ankles. He placed them under the cut, waiting for her legs to start restoring itself. Callisto neither forbade the doctor or any of the nobles running away from the venue. The only ones that weren't allowed out of the room were the main culprit and the guards. "Take her away."
Bearing Daisy's constant high-pitched shrieks of pain, the doctor followed the guards out along with her parents. The only ones left in the venue were Callisto and Velda, who appeared stunned by the incident unfolding before her. "Velda?" Callisto called out.
Velda was uncomfortable, peering him in the eyes. "Was it my fault?"
Callisto knew immediately what she was talking about. Clasping her hands, he denied it. Velda was slightly comforted by his words. "The fault solely lies on me because I failed to protect you. According to the terms of the contract, I should have been there with you. I am sorry."
Seeing Callisto apologize, because of his negligence to protect her, was a solace to her as though telling her Daisy's injuries weren't the result of her actions and that she shouldn't feel sympathetic for that lady. It was well-deserved. "As a noble, she was born with faster regeneration powers than a lower rank vampire. So she should be fine." Callisto reassured her.
Remembering Callisto talked a lot today, in contrast to the other days because of her, she appreciated his help. "Thanks for defending me!"
"No problem." As if a hurricane passed through the hall, the servants rushed in to clean the broken glasses and debris before the duke changed his mind to come back here.
After that incident, their marital relationship changed to a friendship where both of them can easily talk about their difficulties to one another. When they had a heart to heart talk about their past, their bond deepened into partners that trust each other with information. Now that he signed the divorce papers, they were nothing to each other.
But…, it's fine. Originally, he was giving her time to accept his feelings and get used to him, but, back then, there was a special clause he wrote in a secret ink. If she broke that clause, she would have no choice but to pay for the penalty. "Velda, as soon as you return to where I am, I will never let you go." Callisto looked out the window. Closing his eyes, he wished for her safe travels.
After two days of driving, she finally reached the Niagara Falls International Airport, which was far from the bustling city she was living in. She chose a different airport from the one in the city, in case Callisto decided to chase her. Fortunately, she never saw any stalkers hot on her heels in the streets nor a vehicle closely following her car. It was such a relief Callisto respected her decision to divorce, though she forcefully made it happen.
Passing through the prolonged security session, as Velda was waiting for her flight at the gate entrance, her phone notified her of Lisa's message.
Lisa: Nowadays, I noticed that Callisto's grown up. He wouldn't even allow me near his vicinity.
Velda knew she was clearly being dramatic by her tone of narration, therefore, Velda remarked back in the same sarcastic way.
Velda: I think that's because you went on a very long honeymoon. Besides, he never allowed you to go near him after the 'bullying' incident.
Lisa: He wasn't bullied! He overwhelmed the other students completely.
Velda: Really?
Lisa: Eat your words when I show you the proof. And also, I don't think I went on a 'long' honeymoon. Only 30 years.
Velda: In human terms, it's enough to grow from a small baby to a fully grown adult. Enough of the jokes. What is the situation like for the vampire nobles?
Lisa: The neutral side is just watching the events fold on and intervenes when it thinks the power will need to be balanced. The second faction with the young nobles is called Lunar Sentinels, because they are aiming to find a way for vampires to not rampage during the full moon and the lunar eclipse. The third faction, Phantoms, consists of only ancient folks. The members are all old fashioned, believe in traditional values, and strive to achieve their goal no matter the enormous sacrifice they need to make. They are bull-headed, and believe younger vampires shouldn't take over their duties because they lack power and experience.
Velda: I don't want to ever face them.
Lisa: Trust me. Neither do I, but that's part of being the same species. I think it's karma from my previous life.
Velda: Weren't you an atheist?
Lisa: I was....until recently.
Velda: What happened?
Lisa: Nothing.
Velda: Don't try to change the subject.
Lisa: I arranged a residence and a taxi that will pick you up when you arrive there. You just have to say hi because I have already drawn and described your appearance to the driver. He will be holding a signboard with your name at Terminal 3.
Velda: Wow, so detailed.
Lisa: That's not all! I told him not to move from his spot so that you don't confuse him for the other drivers. His head is shiny bald and he has a ridiculously long beard. I will send you a photo of him later.
Velda: What kind of character is that?
Lisa: I don't know. An NPC, perhaps? Btw, how was the pdf I sent to you? Helpful?
Velda: It was very helpful. It rendered Callisto unconscious straight away. I am going to teach my kids how to make it as well, in case of self defense against kidnappers and bad guys.
Lisa: Hahahaha, I think the kidnapper would be the one.....Wait.
There was a pause before another message popped up on her screen.
Lisa: You have kids?
Velda: Ahahahaha...I found out one day ago.
Lisa didn't say anything for a while, as if taking the time to process the whole thing.
Lisa: Whose!? Did you truly cheat on my brother, you ungrateful woman?! I have been supporting the two of you this whole time. How could you....?!
Velda: You think so too?
Lisa: What?! The fact that you cheated on my brother? Or the fact that.....?
Velda: You okay?
Lisa: Don't tell me their father is my little brother?
Velda: Yeah.
Lisa: Impossible. Since when has my brother ever been interested in you?
Velda: It was a drunk mistake.
Lisa: Hardly. He'd never let anyone in if he was.
Velda: Well, he always let me in because I am technically his partner. What? You find it hard to believe?
Lisa: Yeah. As far as I know him, he never expressed his interest in you nor other women. He doesn't have erectile dysfunction, but….
Velda: Told you, it was a drunken mistake.
Lisa: Hmmmm….I will ask him.
Velda: Please do. In case he denies it, I will send you a DNA test after you send me Callisto's genetics.
Lisa: I will, five years later.
Velda: Well, thank you for stomping on your friend's broken heart several times.
Lisa: Anyways…, it's good that you left him when it was the most dangerous. It seems to be peaceful but underneath that facade, there are different sorts of plots going on.
Velda: I agree.
Lisa: On another note, how did you discover you were pregnant that fast?
Velda: I had a brief health check up because I haven't been to a hospital for half a year, but then, the doctor suddenly congratulated me and said I had twins in my belly.
Lisa: But then, how will you support yourself with the two kids?
Velda: Just transfer me the monthly alimony.
Velda didn't know if she was shameless in asking Lisa to pay when the responsibility was originally supposed to be her brother's. But, it couldn't be helped. At first, she was planning to abort these children because she didn't have enough money to support them nor was she experienced in taking care of children. As she thought it over, she didn't mind the fact that these kids will be involved with her, perhaps, they may be a breath of fresh air, brightening her mundane life. They may be fatherless, but she will raise them with all the love they deserve.
Lisa: Will that be enough?
Lisa transferred 20 million dollars into her bank account.
Velda: That's too much!
Lisa: It's nothing for an affluent family like us.
Velda: Thanks. Callisto still doesn't know of my pregnancy. Please don't tell him.
Lisa: Why not?
Velda: I don't think he likes kids.
Lisa: How come I didn't know that?
Velda: One time, I saw him frown outside the window. It was because of a kid running along the road with his parents behind him.
Lisa: Personally, I think he was reminded of the past memories where he was imprisoned in the mansion and not allowed to go outside. It was for the sake of his health.
Velda: Still, he must have felt lonely by himself.
Lisa: Yeah, but he never once showed us his dissatisfaction with his countenance. Makes sense, we, vampires, are empathetic to human emotions.
Velda: But I think the high ranking vampires show more emotions than a normal human does in this society. Anger, contempt, satisfaction, arrogance, evil, and many others I can name of.
Lisa: Are you slandering us right now!?
Velda: And.....do you mind?
Lisa: Hmph. Not the least. And I promise to not tell him unless he threatened me.
Velda: Lisa!
Lisa: Just kidding. He won't be able to overpower me if he improved at this slow pace.
Velda was baffled. Slow? Callisto was? If you had to compare his power to all the other vampires, she could surely say his abilities were truly in the top 5% that aristocrats could achieve in such little time. To attain Callisto's level of power was already talented enough and arduous that only four other people obtained it. Although Velda had never seen Lisa used her powers in the public, if what Lisa said was true, she might be the only one in the kingdom to have achieved it.
Velda: I don't believe you.
Lisa: Huh! Are you doubting your friends' words?
Velda: Yeah, you know how much he treasures his family. I would usually believe you but maybe he was not in a perfect condition that day or he went easy on you.
Lisa: He didn't.
Velda: He probably did.
Lisa: If you don't believe me, I will let someone take a video of me fighting against him.
Velda: I will judge whether he was going easy on you, because I see him use his powers daily.
Lisa: Sure, I don't mind. I will send you the video 5 days later. I predict that's when Callisto will ask to duel against me.
Velda: Why?
Lisa: It's a s-e-c-r-e-t~!
Velda: I don't care. And please take care of Callisto.
Lisa: Of course I will. He's my brother. Who else would I look after if not my family?
Velda: That's good to know. Also, if he wanted to deliver a message for me, I told him to give it to you so that you can text it to me.
Lisa: Why did you...?
Velda: I blocked his number.
Lisa: Fine. I will be the middleman between the two of you. Satisfied?
Velda: Lisa, you aren't the middleman.
Velda appeased her.
Velda: I doubt Callisto has anything left to say since I was rude to him. I only said so because I wanted us to remain friends. I am so selfish, aren't I?
Lisa: You aren't. I understand your actions and wholeheartedly support you.
The announcement for her flight reached her ears. She got up, heading to the counter for the plane, typing on her phone.
Velda: I have to go now. Anything to say to me?
Lisa: Bon voyage! And text me when you arrive there!
Velda: Okay!
They ended things on a happy note before Velda headed for a place, where she lingered for a longer time than she expected.